Package



B. H. VOSS Aug. 8,1944.

PACKAGE Filed 001;. 28, 1942 INVENTOR.

jam/d5 70m Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bernard H. Vols, Chicago, Ill. Application October 28, 1942, Serial No. 483,611 1 Claim. (Cl- 206-413) The present invention relates to packages. and more in particular to improvements in a conventional cigarette package providing for the more ready removal of the cigarettes embraced thereby.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide novel means in a conventional paper wrapper for cigarettes to facilitate the removal of the first one or two cigarettes from the package formed by the wrapper.

As is well known at the present time, cigarettes are removed from the paper wrapping embracing the same by'tearing the corner of the end structure for the package, after which the user grasps one or more cigarettes and removes the same therefrom. It is further well known that because of the way in which the paper wrapper embraces the cigarettes it is often difiicult to remove the first one or two cigarettes from the package, andresort is bad to tapping the bottom structure of the package or the same is pressed to eject the said cigarettes. This often leads to tearing or injury to the first one or more cigarettes and the same must be handled by the user, which is sometimes embarrassing when such cigarettes are oii'ered to another individual.

It is therefore an object of the present inventlon to embody in such conventional types of paper wrappings novel means to facilitate the ejection of the said first few cigarettes from the package without incurring the disadvantages as above set forth.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such improvements in a conventional wrapping so that conventional packaging machinery may be used without substantial alteration or cost.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention. as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing- ,Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a cigarette pactkiage embodying one form of the present inven on;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the package I shown in Figure, 1, with an opening in the top structure for remhval of cigarettes therefrom, and further showing the way in which cigarettes are elected through the medium of the novel means embodied in the package:

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a section of the paper wrapping showing the way in which the same is weakened to provide the advantages according to the present invention;

1 below the Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a cigarette package disclosing an alternative form of means for effecting the results according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective I of a paper wrapper for cigarettes embodying further alternative means for accomplishing the results in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3, an embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is disclosed therein as comprising a package 2 formed from a paper wrapper to provide a package for cigarettes or the like, the said paper wrapper being conventional in its structure and of such a size as to be formed into a rectangular package for embracing a plurality of cigarettes, all as is well known in the art, the said wrapper being folded at the top and bottom as at 4 and secured together to complete the package.

The present invention is particularly directed to the incorporation of means in the package 2 to facilitate removal of the cigarettes contained therein. Such means in the embodiment shown in Figures 1, z and 3 is characterized by a plurality of lines of weakness referred to by the reference numeral 6, which are disposed in spaced relation upwardly from the bottom structure of the package and extend completely around the said package. Such means may be incorporated in the paper wrapper 8 forming the package I by corrugating the said pap r wrapper over a portion thereof as at it, such that when the said wrapper is formed into the package 2 the lines forming the folds or corrugations also form the lines of weakness 5 about the package 2.

These spaced lines of weakness in the paper wrapper facilitate the removal of the cigarettesthrough a conventional opening, such as It, which is usually torn in the top structure of the package,

the said cigarettes being readily ejected by tap-- ping the bottom corner structure immediately opening it with the finger or some other object, the conventional way of electing cigarettes being shown in Figure 2 by the user's thumb or finger i4. Due to the lines of weakness in the paper wrapper, the corner structure below the opening it is more readily collapsible than in the conventional type of package, thus permitting the ready and easy ejection of the cigarettes into position to be grasped by the user.

If desired, the improvement may take the form as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, wherein the P kage conforms substantially s m in Figure 1 of the drawing, and tho-improvement of which consists of spaced lines of weakness, such as It, extending around the package adjacent each of the corners of the lower structure. The provision of such means at these locations renders the comer structure collapsible in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1, and the same novel results are accomplished by the use of a package made in accordance with this description.

Furthermore, if desired, the paper wrapper 8 may be formed in'accordance with the disclosure of Figure 5, wherein the same is formed with a fold or. pleat l8 extending the length of the paper wrapper and at such a location that the pleat or fold is disposed adjacent the bottom structure when the paper wrapper is formed into the package. This form of pleat may be maintained in the resulting structure or, if desired,

the pleat or fold may be formed to merely provide the lines of weakness such as indicated at 20 and 22, the wrapper being straightened out prior to its folding to form the package as illustrated in Figure l of the drawing.

As is clearly apparent from the above description, the present invention is directed to the formation of a suitable package for cigarettes which is weakened adjacent the base structure thereof. Accordingly, the invention comprehends incorporating in a paper wrapper any means for weakening the said package, and such means may take the form. of corrugations, scoring, pleating or folding, or perforations, and it is accordingly understood that the present invention is of such a tween, and which is further characterized by scope as to comprehend such structures in a cigarette package.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A substantially rectangular cigarette package or the like formed from sheet material to provide a wrapping 'for said cigarettes in the form of a container having a base and opposed wall, and oppositely disposed end and side walls therebehaving a plurality of spaced lines of weakness at least in one of the end walls and across the adjacent corners formed by said end wall, and adjacent side walls and each extending substantially parallel to and being disposed adjacent the base structure to-weaken said wrapping lengthwise of said package whereby cigarettes contained therein are more readily removed successively therefrom without injury to said package through an opening in the wall of said wrapping opposed to said base structure by application of upward pressure to said base structure, said opening being disposed adjacent the end wall having said lines of .weakness and having a length less than the width of said package.

BERNARD H. voss. 

